The Chinese Consulate hosted South African diplomats on Friday to mark 25 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.
China is South Africa’s largest global trading partner and we are also China’s number one trading partner in Africa.
The bilateral trade between the two countries grew from less than R1 billion in 1998 to R544 billion in 2021 in what the Chinese Consul-General in Joburg Tang Zhongdong described as the past two decades of success.
“Chinese presidents have paid five visits to South Africa while South African presidents have paid six visits to China under the guidance of President Xi (Jinping) and President (Cyril) Ramaphosa, the relationship continues to deepen and relations in various fields have become increasingly close with tangible benefits.
“Over the next three years China will deport billions of goods from South Africa which is one of the largest investments for Chinese enterprises in Africa up to this point exceeding $35 million,” he said.
He said there are more than 200 Chinese companies in the country and most of them have promised to employ locals.
Zhongdong said he believes South Africa will have a successful event when it hosts the Brics Summit in August which may see the likes of Egypt and Saudi-Arabia admitted into the multilateral body established as an alternative to existing dominant Western structures.
“I believe South Africa will host a success summit for the world. Many countries are interested in joining Brics. This is a sign that the functioning of Brics is working well, that’s why more and more countries are interested in joining.”
Gauteng Provincial Legislature deputy speaker Nomvuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela said Bricsis a great platform for the country to continue to benefit economically.
“We benefit economically and politically by sharing values, sharing ideas but importantly the Brics platform gives us the proximity to be exposed to new technologies, ideas and of course to sustain and maintain the 25-year relationship. This has been good for both partners. We can only hope that generations to come can sustain this relationship,” she said.
Since its formation as the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India and China) in 2006, the group has only admitted one new member, South Africa in 2010 hence the acronym Brics.
